Railway brake beam



Sept1 28,-1937. E. G. Bussi:`

' RAILWAY BRAKE BEAM Filed May' 7L 1937 2 Sheets-:Sheet 1 lll Sept. 28,v1937.

E. G'. Bus'sE 2,094,0344

RAILWAY BRAKE'BEAM y Fi'led May 7, 1957 2` sneaks-sheetl 2 PatentedSept. 28, 1937 RAILWAY BRAKE BEAM Edwin G. Busse, Chicago, Ill.,lassigner to Chicago Railway Equipment Company, Chicago, Ill., a

corporation of Illinois Application May 7, 1937, Serial No. 141,204

15 Claims.

The inventionrelates to railway rolling stock brake beams of the trusstype which include a compression member, a strut at the middle thereof,and a tension member extending over the strut, there being tensioningdevices secured to the ends of the tension member and bearing againstthe ends of the compression member either directly or through thrustblocks seated on the ends of the compression member.

yUsually these thrust blocks take the form of brake heads through whichthe end portions of the tension member pass, with nuts or other devicesfor anchoring the extremities of the tension member to the brake head.Some brake beam assemblies 'include a separate thrust block elementreceiving the thrust from the tension member anchorage device andtransmitting this thrust to the compression member, leaving the brakehead free of the clamping action of the anchorage device.

It is well known in the art that the tension members of the truss typeof brake beam frequently break adjacent to their anchorage. To avoidthis breakage it has been proposed to increase the sizes of tensionmembers either throughout their length, or at their end portions only byupsetting the ends. Each of these proposed arrangements involvesadditional expense and is not as eiective as desired.

Other proposed arrangements have been directed to eliminating theapplication of transverse forces to the tension member of the beam byuse of pivotal or yielding elements in the connection between the parts,but the theoretical operation of such arrangements have not been borneout in' practice.

The main object of the present invention is to avoid breakage of thatportion of the tension member of a truss type brake beam which isadjacent to the anchorage of the tension member to the end of thecompression member. lThis ref sult is to be obtained by structure whichis simple, eiective, and economical and Without requiring a brake headand associated parts which cannot be interchanged with A. A. R.(American Association of Railroads) standard heads.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate the inventionl Figure 1 isa top view of a truss type brake beam embodying one form of theinvention.

Figure v2 is a front view of the same beam.

Figure 3 is a horizontal section through one end of the beam and istaken approximately on the line 3-3 'of Figure 2.

Figures 4 to 11 are sections similar to Figure 3 but illustrate,respectively, other modications of the invention.

The brake beam of Figures 1, 2, and 3 includes a compression member I ofU cross section, a tension member 2 of solid round bar section, a strut3 which mounts the brake lever (not shown) in the usual manner, andbrake heads 4 each seated at 5 upon an end portion of the compressionmember. The tension rod extends through each brake head from side toside of the latter and projects outwardly beyond the outer side of thebrake head which is provided with an opening large enough to easilyclear the tension rod. These major parts of the brake beam are the sameas previously constructed, and the brake beam is assembled in the usualmanner.

A tensioning device 6 is threaded onto the end portion of the tensionrod and is tightened against the outwardly facing bearing -1 on thebrake head to thrust the latter against its seat on the compressionmember and to anchor the end portion of the tension rod to the brakehead. Preferably the tensioning device includes an integral extension 8comprising a sleeve tting closely around the tension rod for asubstantial distance beyond the innermost thread on the latter.Preferably extension 8 does not bear, transversely of its axis, againstthe head.

Any trussed brake beam device deects and twists when subjected to theheavy' forces applied in the application of the brakes and these forcescreate movement between the assembled parts notwithstanding theirinitially tight assembly. The arrangement illustrated will permit thebrake head to weave or work on the beam without changing the relation orposition between the base of the nut and its seat and withoutinterfering with such exing of the rod as is necessary to accommodatethe relative movement between the parts, but the distribution of bendingforces to the rod is spread over a greater length oi.' the rod and thecreation of destructive bending strains in the rod tending to shortenits life is minimized.

Figure 4 illustrates a construction in which the compression member II,tension member I2, and the 'head Il are the same as previously describedbut the tensioning device comprises two separate elements, the nut I6and the sleeve I8 being formed independently of each other. Sleeve I8includes a flange I9 resting against the outwardly facing bearing I1 onthe brake head and transfmitnng the thrust of the nut direct to thebrake head. After the brake beam is assembled, the nut and sleeve willfunction as a unit, corresponding to the tension device 6-8 previouslydescribed, and possesses similar advantages in bracing the end of therod. Preferably the portion of the ange Il bearing on the brake head isgiven the contour of a spherical segment and when the nut is tightenedthe thrust of the curved surface against the metal defining the openinginthe brake head will cause the sharp corner of the latter to disappear,due to pressure or `wear, or both. and give, in effect, a socket bearingadapted to accommodate slight swivellng movement of the sleeve member onthe brake head when the forces applied to the beam are so great as toimpel such movement.

Figure 5 illustrates a modification in which the compression member 2land the tension member 22 are the same as previously described but thepoint of its anchorage to the head and the transverse forces transmittedto the rod or spread over a substantial length of the rod, therebyattaining the main object of the invention.

Other arrangements for securing the desired results are shown in Figures6 and 7 in which the rod bracing feature is located exteriorly of thehead. In Figure 6, the tension member 21 retains its maximum diameterthroughout the width of the head 28 and for a short distance outwardlyvtherefrom, as indicated at 29. The rod bracing sleeve-nut has arelatively heavy section 30 with a cylindrical interior portion fittingclosely over rod portion 29 and has an interiorly threaded portion 3|spaced from the head andv engaging the threaded portion 32 of the rod.

In Figure 7, the lighter section 33 of the sleeve nut is seated againstthe bearing 34 on the head and the heavy non-cylindrical part 35 of thesleeve nut is spaced from the head.

In each of Figures 6 and '1, the face of the sleeve nut engaging thebrake head has rounded outer corners and may rock on the flat bearingoii'ered by the brake head to facilitate the weaving of the tensionmember and compression member relative to each other without changingthe relation between the tension rod and the sleeve nut irrespective ofwhether the relative movement is in the plane of the beam, or isvertical or diagonal to the plane of the beam.

Figure 8 illustrates a separate nut 31 and sleeve 38 correspondinggenerally to that shown in Figure 4 but the end portion 39 of thetension rod is shown upset to a larger diameter than the body 40 of therod. Sleeve 38 extends beyond the threads along the upset portion 39 anddistributes the transverse forces over a larger area of the rod than iseffected by the usual nut anchorage.

The structure shown in Figure 9 is very similar to that of Figure 3described above, but the inner face of the nut 4I is rounded, forming arockerlike bearing on the outer face of the brake head 42 and thusaccommodating the weaving action flange 49 on sleeve ln is provided witha similar ball face to it against seat 45, thus a more extended ball andsocket bearing area is provided thanwill occur in the structure shown inFigure 4.

In all of the above described forms of the invention, the brake headwill serve as a thrust block to receive the pressure from the tensioningdevice andto transmit it to the end of the compression member'f thebeam.

It is to be understood, however, that the essential feature of theinvention may be embodied in a structure utilizing a separate thrustblock, and an illustrative example oi such a combination is shown inFigure 11 in.which the thrust block 5| is mounted on the compressionmember 52 and has a cylindrical periphery on which the brake head 53 mayrotate to readily ,bring the contour of the brake shoe (not shown) flushwith the wheel tread. 'I'he tensioning device 54 may be formed as in anyof the previously described structures andV preferably has its thrustblock engaging face provided with a spherical or rounded contour tofacilitate the rocking or swivellng movements referred to above.

Except in Figure 5, clearance is shown between the inner wall of .thebrake head, or thrust block, and the tension rod of the brake beam butthis clearance is not essential to all the aspects of the invention andwill -be immaterial in many installations.

The brakeheads shown in Figures 6 and 7 embody no departure whateverfrom the standard A. A. R. heads in general use. 'I'he brake heads shownin Figures 3, 4, 8 and 9, and the brake head and thrust block shown inFigure 11, are modified onlyto the extent of having the tension rodopening slightly enlarged, and the head shown in Figure 10 has theadditional countersunk socket-like seat provided therein, but none ofthese arrangements require the use of different heads. In other words,the invention may readily be embodied in the millions of brake beams nowin use without the expense of 're-v placing the heads now on the beams.Obviously this statement does not apply to the structure shown in Figure5 in which the head is provided with the integral tension rod embracingsleeve 2l.

All forms of the invention attain the specific object of preventingsubstantial bending of the tension member of the beam adjacent itsanchor to the compression member of the beam and thereby attain thegeneral object of avoiding breakage of the tension memberat this point,which breakage has been a very serious problem in the maintenance ofrailway rolling stock.

This application is a continuation in part of applicants earlierapplication filed March 5, 1,936 and bearing Serial No. 67,229.

Other modifications of the invention may be made without departing fromthe novel features clearly described above, and the exclusive use of`various structures coming within the scope of the Vand the other sidevof said head clearing said tension member anddevice, thestructureincluding means extending alongside of a part of said tension member andengagingvthe same to vpreing against said brake he'ad, the structurein-'l cluding rigid means other than the parts mentioned for resistingbending of said tension member adjacent to where it is engaged by saiddevice.

3. In a truss type brake beam, a compression member, a thrust blockthereon, a tension vmember, and a sleeve device enclosing the endportion oi' said tension member seated on and extending within saidthrust block and movable on said block with said tension member andembracing and reinforcing said tension member for a substantial distanceinwardly from the point of seating of said tension member on said thrustblock.

4. In a truss type brake beam, a compression member, a brake headthereon having a lateral opening, a sleeve-like device seated againstthe outerv face of said brake head and projecting through and havingplay in said opening, a tension member extending through said device,said device and tension member including means holding them in unitaryassembly with each other.

5. In a truss typel` brake beam, a compression member, a brake headthereon having a lateral opening, a sleeve-like device seated againstthe outer face of said brake head and y'projecting through and havingplay in said opening, a tension member extending through said device,said device and tension member including meansv holding them againstsubstantial relative movementtransversely of their axis and throughoutthe length of said device.

6. In atruss type brake beam, a compressi member, a thrust blockthereon, a'tension member, and structure anchoring said tension memberon said thrust block-and movable on said thrust block with said tensionmember to accommodate movement of said thrust block relative to saidtension member but closely surrounding said tension member to reinforcethe same and increase the resistance to bending of said tension memberadjacent the point o! anchorage.

7. In a truss type brake beam structure, a compressionmember, a tensionmember, .a standard A. 4.1%. brake head seated on said compressionmember and including an outwardly facing bear- ,.-A ing, a nut threadedon said tension member-and seated against said bearing, the structureincluding a one-piece annular element engaging the periphery ofsaidtensiommemberliadiacent nid nut.

and snugly embracing said tension member inwardly ot its threadedportion.

9. In a truss type brake beam structure, a compression member, a tensionmember, a brake head seated on said compression member, a nut threadedonto said tension member and bearing against vsaid brake head, said nutincluding a sleeve ntting around the unthreaded end portion of saidtension member to prevent bending of the same adjacent said nut. f

10. Ina truss type brake beam, a compression member, a thrust blockthereon, a tension memberhaving an end portion extending throughsaidthrust block, a nut threaded onto said tension member, a seat on saidthrust block opposing said nut, and a device having a ilat annularbearing on said nut and seat and gripped between said nut and said seatand constructed and arranged to resist bending of said end portion ofsaid tension member at the base of the threads on said tension member.

11. In a truss type brake beam structure, a compression member.' abrake' head seated thereon, a tension member extending through said lhead from side to side, a tensioning device on the wall to wall. and atensioning device on the end of said tension member, the outer side wallof said head having an outwardly facing bearing for said f tensioningdevice and having an inwardly extending sieeve spaced from the otherside wall and disposed to enclose the corresponding portion of saidtension member to hold it against bending.

v 13. Ina truss type brake beam structure, a compression member, a brakehead seated thereon, a tension member extending through said'head fromside to side, a tensioning device on the end of said tension member, theouter wall of said head forming a seat for said tensioning device andthe inner wall of said head substantially clearing said tension memberand device, the structure including means for positively resistingbending o! said tension member where engaged by said device.

. 14. In a truss type brake beam, a compression member, a-tensionmember, a brake head seated on said compression member, and a sleevedevice closely surrounding and secured to saidtension member andextending ltherewith through said brake head and including a shoulderbearing against said brake head, the opening in said 'head for saidtension member and sleeve device providing for rocking o! the latter onsaid head.

15. A brake beam structure as specified in claim 13 in which the surfaceof said tensioning device engaging said brake head is rounded tofacilitate the rocking of the tensioning device on 'the brake head seattherefor.

v EDWIN G. RUSSE.

